Korean Job Discussion Forums

[leopard7]

One of my friends, an American, who has taught in Korean Public Schools for 5 years told me the Ministry of Education told his Korean wife that they will phase out all NETs by 2012. My Korean wife also called our local Ministry of Education, and they told my wife there is talk of phasing out all NETs, but she didn't think it would be as early as 2012. Does anyone else know anything else pertaining to this subject?

[oldtactics]

Well, March is going to be EPIK's biggest hiring season thus far, with almost 800 new teachers placed in addition to the people who are already here. That's about 200 more than they hired in September, 400 more than in 2008. I don't know whether there's truth to the rumour about NETs being phased out, but I can tell you that EPIK is getting bigger by leaps and bounds, not smaller.

[frankly speaking]

I think their original goal was to phase out by 2020, not 2012. Think about it this way these programs have only been full on for a bout 4 years. Do you really think that they would spend this much money for a short 10 year program. Not much results in 10 short years.

[DosEquisXX]

Wishful thinking if you ask me.

[ontheway]

Here is a story told by a public school official:

[Konglishman]

[Goon-Yang]

Asking why the earth is tilted is like asking why water is wet. In science some thing can be asked "why is the sky blue"? There is a valid scientific reason for that. Some things just are.

Other than that it was a great joke

[ontheway]

Here is a story told by a public school official:

[leopard7]

Glad to hear back from you all. I've only been teaching in Korea for 16 months, hence I don't know everything about public schools yet. When I made this post, I was not giving my opinion--I was only saying what others who have been here far longer told me (including my Korean wife). I taught in Japan and Germany, and one thing I can tell you is that there are boom and bust cycles with all business, and, yes, education is a business of sorts. So I hope it all contiues on for a long time, for we are enjoying our time and teaching in Korea!

[nautilus]

[leopard7]

Yeah, I'm still learning about Korean culture, and even with my wife's help it's still difficult, but then so were the Japanese, although I found the Japanese much more polite and easier to talk with, providing you initiate the conversation. I know there are always rumors in any profession that this or that will come to an end, soon, but many times they are just that: rumors.

[rickpidero]

I teach high school in Incheon, my co-teacher is applying for a new English teaching job this year. I guess it's supposed to be a new hybrid position where Korean-born teachers teach English while actually using English. These classes use almost no Korean, unlike the classes we've all seen. I've attended an open session with these new teachers and it seems similar to any NET class, except the teacher can guide the students along with a Korean phrase/word here and there. These teachers also travel around to different schools. Has anyone else heard about this type of teachers in their cities?

[bcjinseoul]

In the middle of 2008 when I was starting a GEPIK high school contract, I was told foreigners would be phased out in 2010. I've heard people hear say GEPIK will phase out foreigners starting in 2011.

Somehow, I'm sure we have a good 5-10 years left...